In front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Nearly everyone with a certain level of cultivation was unanimously looking toward the southwest of Linzi City.

Five radiant beams soared into the sky, entwining and thrusting toward the distant Star Vault.

In the broad daylight with the azure sky overhead, a "star" suddenly shone brightly in the southwest corner of the heavens—an instantaneous brilliance that nearly rivaled the blazing sun!

Everyone knew that it wasn’t a star, but a cultivator reaching a breakthrough, erecting a Star Tower in the remote Star Vault, shining its light in the mortal realm for the first time!

The "star" was fleeting.

The Star Vault remained dominated by the solitary sun.

The spectacle of the five radiant beams crossing the sky was as ephemeral as an illusion.

But who could forget such a moment?

Since ancient times, countless cultivators have broken through from the Inner Mansion Realm to the External Building Environment, but how many have witnessed such extraordinary phenomena?

The whole of Linzi City was in an uproar.

The crowd waiting in front of The Imperial Ancestral Temple was even more excited.

"This is the Five Mansions shining together! A peerless grace!"

"Indeed, it is Tianfu!"

"Zhongxuan Fenghua truly possesses Tianfu!"

"He achieved the Outer Building with Tianfu!"

The civil and military officials, the honorables and dignitaries, all high and mighty, couldn’t help but whisper and chatter among themselves.

"Excellent!" In the area where the honorables gathered, a resounding cheer suddenly erupted, Zhongxuan Ming Guang abruptly stepped forward, clenching his fist before him: "A tiger father does not beget a canine son! My boy has done me proud!"

He was accustomed to socializing, and on an occasion like today, he couldn’t help but come out to "make friends." Thus, even with little interest in martial affairs, he had dressed himself finely to step out.

Not far away, Zhongxuan Sheng was not intimidated by the magnificent scene of the Five Mansions’ radiance, as he had expected this... but he was almost overwhelmed by his uncle’s loud exclamation. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes discreetly.

Standing beside him, Shisi (Fourteen) silently moved a bit closer, as if to say—"Don’t be afraid."

No matter how prestigious the Zhong Xuan Family was, there were plenty of others present today who were no less influential. Moreover, Zhongxuan Ming Guang was notoriously lazy and dissolute, living a life of idleness from youth to old age. No one took him too seriously.

Yet at this moment of impropriety, no one stood up to reproach him.

The reason was simple...

His son was too strong.

Even Grand Qi’s Prime Minister Jiang Rumo, casting an undisturbed glance at Zhongxuan Ming Guang, couldn’t help but inwardly sigh with admiration.

It was said that the elder son of the old Marquis of Chongxuan was all style and no substance, a case of fine feathers making fine birds.

But Jiang Rumo felt that Zhongxuan Ming Guang was truly born with good fortune, blessed with top-tier status. Born into the illustrious Zhong Xuan Family, blessed with a handsome appearance, he lived a carefree and dissolute life from a lavish childhood to adulthood. In his youth, the Zhong Xuan Family sheltered him from all harm; when he grew up and the time came to shoulder responsibilities, his younger brother, Zhongxuan Mingtu, emerged.

There was no ugly fraternal competition, for there was no chance of it.

Zhongxuan Ming Guang continued his carefree ways.

When Zhongxuan Mingtu fell from favor, it seemed Zhongxuan Ming Guang should face some life pressures, yet his cousin, Zhongxuan Chuliang, rose to prominence in a single battle, earning the name of a fearsome warrior...

Up until now, with two Marquises from the Zhong Xuan Family, his son Chongxuan Zunti truly embodied the name of a prodigy, the Five Mansions shining together, erecting a Star Tower like a star. His peers inevitably paled in comparison.

Looking closely at Zhongxuan Ming Guang’s life, in over sixty years, had he ever experienced the slightest hardship? He’d played from youth to old age! Free of worries of the past, and free of worries for the future!

This was far more comfortable than the life of a State Minister!

Compared to the diverse thoughts and discussions in the stands, the expressions of Bao Bozhao and Xie Baoshu changed on the plaza, and even the female general Chao Yu, born of military lineage, was momentarily moved.

The reason was simple: Emperor Qi’s summons of Chongxuan Zunti had originally been for the top Inner Mansion Realm competitor at the Yellow River Gathering.

But now that Chongxuan Zunti had completed his breakthrough, the position he contested for shifted to within the External Building Environment.

This meant that at this very moment, this peerless prodigy who had outshone all his peers, had become their competitor!

What was meant to be watching the tigers battle from the mountain now became walking alongside the tiger!

...

...

Inside the education halls of Under Jixuegong.

The young masters who had been studying until a moment ago said, "This is my disgrace"...

And thus they put down their books.

And thus the Five Mansions shone together, instantly erecting the Star Tower, causing a sensation in Linzi.

Yet during this overwhelmingly radiant moment, he was not the least bit engrossed, his hands gently folding together, and the stars on the horizon faded accordingly.

Regardless of what the veteran Teaching and Training instructor felt, he simply rose to his feet, took his own book, and said, "Teacher, I shall take my leave now."

Striding out of the pavilion, his white clothes billowing, he walked on air and departed.

Such was this youth’s elegance...

It wasn’t until the white-robed youth’s figure disappeared into the sky that the seasoned instructor of Under Jixuegong came back to his senses.

Only then did he realize... his shoes had somehow stepped into the water!

Outside Under Jixuegong, the imperial messenger who had waited and waited, finally saw Chongxuan Zunti, holding a scroll of books, gracefully approach from behind the ancient stone archway.

The imperial messenger quickly cleared his throat, gathered his breath to make the announcement—

But was stopped by an upright palm.

"Please forgive Chongxuan Zunti for not accepting the decree," said the white-clad noble youth with a slight smile, softening the captivating brilliance with his gentle demeanor, "for I have already fulfilled my previous commitment and left Under Jixuegong."

The imperial messenger hesitated for a moment, then recalled that indeed, there was an edict last year mandating Chongxuan Zunti to study at Under Jixuegong for a year, to leave only upon breaking through.

Today’s new imperial command was to summon Chongxuan Zunti to leave his cultivation retreat prematurely.

But Chongxuan Zunti had already completed his breakthrough ahead of time... He had left on his own accord.